Brink for PC: runs great, plays well online, is a ton of fun

After playing the PC version of Brink both on- and offline, we can say that …

Yesterday I explained why Ars Technica would not be publishing a review of the Brink code we were given, and I still believe that was a good decision. However, the PC review code arrived and we have played for a few hours. This still isn't a standard review, not with the short amount of time played, but we can happily report that the technical issues found in the Xbox 360 version pre-patch are nowhere to be seen.

The graphics look good, the game plays like a dream online, and aiming with a mouse and keyboard comes with the expected advantages. I feel like I have finally played Brink, and I'm having a great time doing so. To whet your appetite for a more in-depth appraisal in the coming weeks, here are a few notes on the PC version of the game.

The enemies are dumb

The single- and multiplayer games are exactly the same, save for the fact that in some cases you'll be fighting against people who can think, and in others you'll be fighting against the bots. The AI isn't the smartest opponent you'll ever face, so while you may learn the game's mechanics and levels by playing offline, you won't know what it's like to fight against someone who actually wants to stop you. You'll see the bots do silly things, or both sides get locked into a firefight that doesn't really matter, and you'll shake your head.

Still, the bots are pretty easy to kill, and any experience you earn in any mode helps you build your character. It can be fun to grab a few friends, begin a co-op game, and mow down the bots to have a good time, learn how the game works, and buff up your dude. Just be prepared for tactics to change radically once you're facing human opponents.

The way games are set up is brilliant

When beginning a match, you can set the game to solo if you'd like to play alone, private if you want to password your game, or public if anyone can join. Then you can select if the players dropping in have to be on your team for a co-op game against the bots, or if they can fight against you in a vs. match. The options are laid out in a simple manner, and it's easy to begin the type of game you want to play. This isn't a game that will click with you instantly, so playing a few rounds offline or with friends to learn what you're doing is a great idea, and it's nice the game makes setting things up that way so simple.

Don't watch that fracking video

The game will ask if you'd like to watch a video the first time you play, and it will offer 1,000 XP for doing so. It sounds like a good idea, but the video is longer than most sitcoms and just as painful. Not only that, but you can earn 1,000 XP in the game in a matter of minutes, and have much more fun doing it. The Challenges do a great job of introducing you to concepts in the game, so play those instead. You can watch a lot of videos that explain the game on YouTube if that's your thing, but skip this one.

Launch trailer

Just for reference, I started the video, got up, drank a soda, heated up a frozen waffle, ate it, checked my son's homework, used the restroom, and it was still yammering on about grenades or some other madness. You will have the sense that you should see it through to get the experience points, but trust me, it's not worth it.

Dedicated servers make all the difference

I was playing on a public game to try to earn some XP, and I suddenly noticed that the other players got smarter. I brought up the player list and sure enough, there were now humans fighting against me. After the mess of the 360 version, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the netcode handled the sudden change.

Not only that, but there is support for dedicated servers, and a full server browser if you'd like to skip matchmaking and search for games that way. They say you can't have your cake and eat it too, but they're wrong: the ability to set up games using matchmaking as well as having a server browser is freeing, and it's a set of options more PC games should have. It made me very happy, and performance on the PC has been great while playing online.

A few more quick notes

You can do a lot to change the appearance of your character, but the utter lack of female options is a little confusing. There couldn't have been a single female character model in a game that gives you this much freedom to change how you look?

If you see an enemy soldier reaching out for help and you have a spare moment, be sure to put the butt of your gun through his forehead. This makes sure he won't be healed and you'll gain 20 experience points. It's a win for yourself, and your team!

I can see players running through the available missions in short order, so if you don't think you can get your money out of what amounts to a multiplayer-only game this is not something you should pick up. If you think you'll be fine playing against other humans in these matches time after time, you'll be good to go.

We've given "Buy" ratings to single-player games with less than eight hours of gameplay before, and there's certainly at least that many hours in this game—and likely many more. While things often get confusing, and the complexity of the game may only reveal itself over time, so far I'm having a very good time playing. I tip my hat to the PC version: sir, you have delivered the goods.